Living Well With Depression

Dealing with Depression

Depression is a disease that affects millions of Americans, many who don’t even realize they have it. The cases of it range from situational to mild to clinical. Dealing with depression brings daily challenges that never truly end.

Signs and symptoms of depression

Signs of depression vary from person to person. Some of symptoms of depression include: * persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood * feelings of hopelessness and pessimism * feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, and self-hatred * feeling guilty * a loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities * decreased energy * difficulty concentrating and making decisions * insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping * loss in appetite and weight loss, or overeating and weight gain * physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain * Suicidal thoughts

Depression Diagnosis

When someone is diagnosed with depression it means they have had specific symptoms for a length of time that substantially interferes with a person’s functioning or which causes great personal distress. A good diagnosis of depression should start with a discussion of depression symptoms and how long those symptoms have lasted, how severe they are, and if they person ever had them before. There are several types of depression. Major depression is the label and concept applied to all depressions, episodic, or chronic, and all stages of severity. The cases can range from mild depression to situational depression to clinical depression. There are three different stages of major depression. In the early stage it is sometimes difficult to tell if a person is developing depression during this phase, or if it they are just unhappy over something in a normal way. Early stages of depression are identified by low mood, trouble to get things done because of fatigue or lack of concentration, insomnia, and a desire to be alone. The next phase is the moderately severe depression stage. By this point the depression is well established and a constant problem. They often have suicidal thoughts, can be very withdrawn, feelings of guilt and failure, very indecisive, distortions of body image, and the inability to concentrate. The third stage of major depression is the severe stage also known as melancholia. This type of depression is diagnosed if they person is slowed down in thinking and action, is unable to function, has marked restlessness and agitation, has suicidal thoughts, has lost the desire to eat, had slowed digestion, and has a loss of their sex drive.

Causes of Depression

Many different things in different people can cause depression. One major theory that has developed in recent years is that depression can be inherited or genetically passed down. Often children of a person with bipolar disorder are more biological vulnerable to have depression in some form. Major depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in a person’s brain. A child of a person with major depression is predisposed to depression. They are more likely than others in society to be diagnosed with it, but they will not necessary have it. Other causes of depression can be major illness, a difficult loss in the family, drug abuse or major changes in one’s life, such as moving. Along with depression being caused by genetic inheritance, it can also be caused by early childhood experience, especially highly traumatic ones such as the loss of a parent. Often depression can come from the onset of stress at school, work, or at home. depression treatment Psychotherapy is a very important part of treating depression. Pyschotherapy is when a patient meets with a pyschologist or psychartist regularly to work through their problems. This type of treatment of depression can be helpful for all depressed people, but is usually more effective in those with milder forms of depression. Many doctors depression treatment includes both antidepressants and psychotherapy. Many people need medication for depression to help have more stable moods, but they also need the psychotherapy to help learn how to deal with small daily problems that arise and to help them learn about themselves as well as the root of their problems. Today, therapists can choose from a variety of depression medications to prescribe to their patients. The most common types are selective sertonin uptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), the tricylics, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s). If you think you may be depressed, it is important to seek help. Talk to a friend, family member, or doctor to get help for depression. Call your local depression hotline and found out how to deal with depression and get back on the road to happiness.